Environmental News
Environmental News from Boulder, Colorado
Household Hazardous Waste facility to close Dec. 18
Dec 10th
Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Household Hazardous Waste facility that has operated since 1992 at the Western Disposal Transfer Station, 5880 Butte Mill Road in Boulder, is closing. It will be replaced by a new facility opening in late February, located at 1901 63rd St. in Boulder, immediately west of the Boulder County Recycling Center.
The existing facility will be open during regular hours (Wednesday, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-noon) through Saturday, Dec. 18, weather permitting. Residents are advised to call the Household Hazardous Waste hotline at 303-441-4800 for closure information. The outdoor nature of the collection facility results in occasional closures due to extreme weather including below freezing temperatures, rain, snow, and high winds.
After Dec. 18, residents are encouraged to safely store their hazardous waste until the new facility opens. If this is not possible, residents are asked to call the HHW hotline to request an appointment to drop off waste. As-needed collection events will be held to meet limited demand.
The Hazardous Materials Management Facility will open in February and includes advantages such as:
• All-weather operation (not subject to weather closures)
• Improved safety and ergonomics
• Greater convenience with more than double existing operating hours
• Begin to serve unmet needs of business community
• Allow processing efficiencies through use of equipment, for example, to bulk latex paint
• Ability to maximize revenues from oil, lead/acid batteries, recycled paint
• Ability to store wastes for more cost effective shipping
• Provide space and flexibility for future processing needs
Business wastes will be accepted, by appointment only, starting in May. The new business service will be limited to those businesses that generate small quantities of hazardous wastes and that are classified by the State of Colorado as “conditionally-exempt small quantity generators.”
All wastes collected are reused, recycled or disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. The program protects the environment through reducing improper disposal of hazardous products to the ground, storm and sanitary sewers, and landfills.
Many toxic, corrosive, flammable or reactive products are collected, including:
• Home improvement products (paints, thinners, caulks, glues, solvents, etc.)
• Auto products (lead/acid batteries, gasoline, motor oil, antifreeze, etc.)
• Garden products (herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, etc.)
• Household cleaners and batteries, regular and compact fluorescent bulbs, pet, pool, and hobby products
More information is available on existing services at www.bouldercountyrecycles.net or by calling the Household Hazardous Waste hotline at 303-441-4800. For more information on the new Hazardous Materials Management Facility, contact Hilary Collins at hcollins@bouldercounty.org or 720-564-2224.
Coalton Trailhead parking closed Dec. 6-Jan. 14
Dec 4th
Boulder County, Colo. – Due to ongoing construction of the Coalton Trailhead, the parking lot will be closed from Monday, Dec. 6 through Jan. 14.
Alternate parking will be available at a basketball court located about one-quarter mile east of the trailhead. Signs have been placed alongside the road to mark the alternate lot at the northeast corner of the intersection of Coalton Road and Indiana Street.
Alternate parking lot map
County seeking input for Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Dec 1st
Boulder County, Colo. – Boulder County is in the process of developing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan to help mitigate the impact of future wildfires. The plan will contain recommendations for policies, programs, and other actions to reduce the negative effects of wildfires.
The county and its partners are seeking resident input in the form of recommendations to be included in the CWPP and volunteers to serve on the CWPP Advisory Team.
“This is an excellent opportunity for community members who want to make a difference in the aftermath of the Fourmile Canyon Fire,” said Brett Haberstick, Sunshine Fire Protection District Chief and CWPP team member. “Being involved in groups like the CWPP Advisory Team can translate into fewer homes lost and more lives saved during the next fire.”
Recommendations
Guidelines and a submission form are available online. “County residents have many good ideas for how best to protect their community,” said Jim Webster, Community Wildfire Protection Planner in the Boulder County Land Use Department. “We want the plan to include new, original ideas from residents.”
Advisory Team
The team will collect and prioritize the recommendations that are submitted. “In order to be successful, our planning process needs to engage a large number of residents,” Webster said. “Many people would like to serve on a board or committee, but they have never been asked. We are asking interested residents to volunteer for this effort and help their community.”
Members of the advisory team must attend four Wednesday night meetings and complete clearly defined “homework” assignments over a four-month period. More information and application instructions are also available online. No previous wildfire experience is required.
Recommendations and advisory team applications will be accepted until Jan. 12.
SOURCE: BOULDER COUNTY PRESS RELEASE
